German professor: New variant could end the pandemic
A respected professor in Germany made striking statements after doctors in South Africa, where the Omicron variant of the corona virus was first detected, said the variant caused less severe symptoms.
“Can be a Christmas present”
Clinical epidemiologist, who is candidate to become Germany’s next health minister, Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach said initial reports mean the Omicron variant could be a Christmas present and even hasten the end of the pandemic.
Doctors in South Africa explained that Omicron caused mild symptoms such as headache and fatigue compared to previous versions of the corona virus.
“Evolved to be more contagious like the flu, but less deadly”
“The Omicron variant has 32 mutations in the spike protein, twice as many as the delta variant,” Lauterbach said. “This could mean that, in parallel with the evolution of most respiratory viruses, the coronavirus has evolved to infect more often and only be less deadly.”
Emphasis on the importance of vaccination
On the other hand, Professor of infectious diseases at the University of East Anglia in England. Dr. Paul Hunter said the theory could “prove to be true”, but stressed that vaccination is crucial in protecting against this strain.
However, scientists have long made statements that the corona virus is unlikely to be eradicated, but will instead evolve into a milder cold-like virus.
It’s too early
However, scientists stated that they need at least a month to determine what kind of effect the Omicron variant will have. Because after a person is infected with the corona virus, it takes time to become seriously ill.
The researchers said they also need at least two more weeks to figure out whether Omicron’s alarming mutations could make it more contagious than delta, and whether resistance to vaccines would impact it in the real world.
On the other hand, so far most cases of the Omicron variant have been seen in younger people who experience milder symptoms from the virus compared to older adults.
Symptoms and severity can vary
Doctors reported that symptoms among patients were mild and included fatigue, muscle aches and headaches. However, experts warn that symptoms and severity may differ as Omicron spreads to older age groups.
The President of the South African Medical Association and the first to detect the new variant in a patient, Dr. Angelique Coetzee said the seven people she treated had extreme tiredness, mild muscle aches, itchy throat and a dry cough.
